R&D Material Development Chemist - Rubber Material

Freudenberg Group • Plymouth, MI

6d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an R&D Material Development Chemist specializing in Rubber Material to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, formulating, and testing elastomer and polymer compounds through hands-on work with mixing, molding, and processing equipment. You will spend significant time in the lab physically running batches, adjusting formulations, and evaluating material performance in real time. This position also involves partnering directly with manufacturing teams to troubleshoot issues on the floor, driving scrap reduction and process improvements. You will lead multiple material development projects, taking ownership from formulation through production implementation, and apply DOE and practical problem-solving methods to refine compounds and resolve production challenges. Additionally, you will work with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and bring new technologies into active testing and development, while maintaining a safe, organized lab environment and ensuring accurate documentation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience in polymer, elastomer, rubber, or materials development (strong internships/co-ops considered).
• Demonstrated experience working directly with mixing, molding, extrusion, or similar processing equipment—not just theoretical or simulation-based work.
• Comfortable working in a lab and manufacturing environment, including standing, lifting, and actively running experiments.
• Experience with formulation and compounding, with an understanding of how materials behave during processing.
• Familiarity with DOE, Six Sigma, or structured problem-solving approaches.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate closely with operators, engineers, and technicians.

Responsibilities

• Design, formulate, and test elastomer and polymer compounds through hands-on work with mixing, molding, and processing equipment.
• Spend significant time in the lab physically running batches, adjusting formulations, and evaluating material performance in real time.
• Partner directly with manufacturing teams to troubleshoot molding and mixing issues on the floor, driving scrap reduction and process improvements.
• Lead multiple material development projects, taking ownership from formulation through production implementation.
• Apply DOE and practical problem-solving methods to refine compounds and resolve production challenges.
• Work with suppliers to evaluate new raw materials and bring new technologies into active testing and development.
• Maintain a safe, organized lab environment and ensure accurate documentation of experiments, results, and development plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level